Honeybees as active bioindicators of plastic pollution: Environmental exposure, analytical strategies, and monitoring perspectives
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In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 1003, 180722, 10.11.2025.
Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Honeybees as active bioindicators of plastic pollution
T2 - Environmental exposure, analytical strategies, and monitoring perspectives
AU - Fuente-Ballesteros, Adrián
AU - Ciulu, Marco
AU - Haque, Shaikh Manirul
AU - Syrgabek, Yerkanat
AU - Basaran, Burhan
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/11/10
Y1 - 2025/11/10
N2 - Honeybee (Apis mellifera) has emerged as a valuable bioindicator for environmental pollution due to its morphological and behavioural traits, wide distribution, short life cycle, high reproductive rate, and ease of domestication. Through their extensive foraging activity, bees interact with multiple environmental compartments. They are increasingly exposed to a wide range of contaminants, including plastic-related compounds. In this work, we examine the potential of honeybees as active samplers of plastic pollution and identify the main exposure pathways. A brief overview of current sampling approaches, sample preparation techniques, and analytical strategies for detecting plastic contaminants is also presented. This study offers practical insights for beekeepers and policymakers to promote more sustainable hive management practices that reduce plastic exposure. Finally, we emphasize the need for harmonized methodologies, expanded geographic monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration, alongside the adoption of greener and standardized analytical techniques to improve detection accuracy and mitigate environmental impact.
AB - Honeybee (Apis mellifera) has emerged as a valuable bioindicator for environmental pollution due to its morphological and behavioural traits, wide distribution, short life cycle, high reproductive rate, and ease of domestication. Through their extensive foraging activity, bees interact with multiple environmental compartments. They are increasingly exposed to a wide range of contaminants, including plastic-related compounds. In this work, we examine the potential of honeybees as active samplers of plastic pollution and identify the main exposure pathways. A brief overview of current sampling approaches, sample preparation techniques, and analytical strategies for detecting plastic contaminants is also presented. This study offers practical insights for beekeepers and policymakers to promote more sustainable hive management practices that reduce plastic exposure. Finally, we emphasize the need for harmonized methodologies, expanded geographic monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration, alongside the adoption of greener and standardized analytical techniques to improve detection accuracy and mitigate environmental impact.
KW - Analytical methods
KW - Bioindicator
KW - Environmental monitoring
KW - Environmental pollution
KW - Honeybees
KW - Microplastic
KW - Chemistry
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018577986
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180722
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180722
M3 - Scientific review articles
C2 - 41101046
AN - SCOPUS:105018577986
VL - 1003
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
SN - 0048-9697
M1 - 180722
ER -